It’s that time of year that we welcome friends and family back for the holidays. Whether you’re catching up with friends, welcoming family for the holidays, planning a no-fuss outing, or need to keep the children entertained, we’ve created the perfect list of activities for a hometown reunion.
Catch Up Over Coffee
Is there anything better than sharing laughs and memories while sipping lattes? One of the classic ways to catch up with friends is over coffee. Downtown South Boston has two locations to choose from. The Busy Bean offers a variety of sweets, salads, and sandwiches to pair with your drink. Coffee lovers can pick from an assortment of flavors for the perfect drink. Similarly, Southern Plenty Café has pastries, quiches, and soups to snack on while chatting. Bonus: Both locations have shopping opportunities featuring art, guides, and decor to browse before or after your drink!
Dine Out
Much of the season sees families coming together over holiday dinners but having someone else handle the cooking and cleaning makes for a no-fuss affair. Those seeking a fine dining experience will enjoy Molasses Grill, which serves staples such as filet mignon and salmon, also presenting menu options that change weekly. The atmosphere, service, and the award-winning fare is the perfect place to celebrate your family coming together again. Those looking for something a bit more casual and traditional will enjoy Old 360 Diner. Diners will find a variety of southern soul food in generous portions. The home-cooked feel is ideal for a family meal. Looking for breakfast instead of dinner? The Packhouse serves hearty, made-to-order breakfasts, such as pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Guests can enjoy a home-style breakfast without waking at the crack of dawn (or cleaning all those dishes). For even more restaurants, be sure to check our dining page.
Fun for the Whole Family (and Friends)
If you need fun activities to please all age groups, look no further than the World of Sports. The complex, which features a variety of activities, provides ample opportunity to spend time together or split up among several recreational opportunities. Kids (and the young of heart) will enjoy the arcade, laser tag, jump zone, and indoor go-karts. JB’s is a full restaurant, offering family-friendly dining, serving burgers, appetizers, and pizza. The older crowd can enjoy cocktails or one of the craft beers on tap (featuring the county’s largest selection) and play cornhole or shoot pool while sipping drinks. Bring everyone together for some healthy competition on the bowling lanes or relax with a movie at one of the complex’s two movie theaters. Pro tip: Check their website for daily specials to get the most fun for the lowest price!
Shopping
Spend some bonding time holiday shopping with friends and family. Stop by Mother Cluckers in downtown South Boston to pick up holiday décor or gifts for loved ones. Alternatively, head to Wister’s and build a bouquet for the centerpiece of your holiday dinner. Explore the shops of local towns searching for antiques at locations like The Peddler’s Market, Toot’s Creek Antique Mall, and Enchanted Surroundings. After all, helping a friend or loved one find something nice can be just as rewarding as helping yourself.
Go Out for Drinks
This may be more of a friend’s activity, but who are we to judge? Reuniting with old friends over drinks is an awesome way to catch up. Beer lovers will enjoy Factory Street Brewing Company, one of the county’s newest attractions, which has eight locally crafted beers on tap. Guests can enjoy pints of their favorite brews, or sample different types by ordering flights. If wine is more your thing, Hunting Creek Vineyard is a great place to spend an afternoon. The vineyard offers a variety of wines in their tasting room, The Barn. Aficionados can even visit the wine cellar and preview upcoming wines with a barrel tasting, or sample past vintages with a library tasting. Lastly, Springfield Distillery serves its distilled spirits from a restored barn turned tasting room. Choose between trying the liquor neat, having it mixed as a cocktail, or sampling a flight of mini cocktails. Trouble settling on just one type of alcohol? Head to Beck’s Bar and Grill, where patrons can sip beer, wine, or cocktails while catching up (or catching the game). Looking for a bar with a bit more flair? The Library Bar features unique cocktails crafted by the house mixologist using fresh ingredients – no premade mixes here. As always, drink responsibly.
